New Year's Trip to Kanazawa: Recommended Shrines for "Hatsumōde" (First Shrine Visit of the New Year)
A must-see for anyone visiting Kanazawa for the New Year's holidays or returning home, as well as for those living in Kanazawa!
We'll introduce some recommended shrines for your first visit of the year (hatsumode).
Let's welcome the new year with a fresh start.
Oyama Jinja Shrine: A Shrine Dedicated to Lord MAEDA Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga domain
Located in the heart of Kanazawa, the beautiful glass work of the main gate, a National Important Cultural Property, makes it a popular tourist destination.
The shrine is dedicated to Lord MAEDA Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga domain, and his wife, Omatsu.
It is said to grant blessings for marital harmony, good relationships, and, due to the enshrined military commander, success in both academics and martial arts, and victory.
The "Kachimamori" (Victory Charm), an amulet modeled after Lord Toshiie's favorite helmet, the Ōnamazu-o-gata Kabuto, is a popular item.
Prayers during the New Year's visit can be very crowded, so it is convenient to make a reservation in advance (online applications are available from 2024).
This shrine attracts the most visitors for hatsumode in Kanazawa.
The waiting time on New Year's Day is approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Access: 10 minutes by bus from Kanazawa Station, get off at "Minami-cho / Oyama Jinja Shrine " stop, and walk for 1 minute.
Kanazawa Jinja Shrine: Receive Sacred Water and Pray for Academic Achievement
Kanazawa Jinja Shrine is located next to Kenrokuen Garden, by the Kinjo Reitaku spring, which is said to be the origin of the name "Kanazawa."
The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a god of learning and an ancestor of the Maeda clan.
It also enshrines a white snake dragon god believed to protect against misfortune and bring good fortune in business.
The ceiling painting in the main hall is a must-see.
On New Year's Eve, the shrine's bonfire creates a magical atmosphere.
During the first three days of the new year, visitors can receive a special good-luck charm for academic success.
The shrine is very popular with students taking entrance exams for their Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year), and the wait time on New Year's Day can be one to two hours.
Access: Take a local bus from Kanazawa Station and get off at the "Dewamachi" bus stop. The shrine is a 3-minute walk from there.
Utasu Jinja Shrine: A Shrine of Twelve Deities Granting Diverse Blessings
Utasu Jinja Shrine is located near the Higashi Chaya District.
Its "Setsubun Festival" on February 3rd is a beloved New Year tradition, featuring geiko (geisha) from the district who perform a dedicatory dance and scatter lucky beans.
The shrine was formerly known as "Utatsu Hachimangu" and was a clan shrine dedicated to MAEDA Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga domain.
It was given its current name in 1900.
In the back of the shrine grounds, you will find the "Tsunanori-ko Sakaba no Ido" well, which is said to have cured the illness of the 5th feudal lord, Tsunanori.
Because the shrine was originally built to protect Kanazawa Castle from evil directions, it offers a rare "Kimon-fuda" amulet.
Hakusan Hime Jinja Shrine: The Revered 'Shirayama-san' Shrine, Drawing 200,000 Visitors for Hatsumode
Hakusan Hime Jinja Shrine is the head shrine of about 3,000 Hakusan shrines across Japan.
It's affectionately known to locals as "Shirayama-san."
The shrine is dedicated to Mt. Hakusan, one of Japan's three sacred mountains, which has been revered as a sacred site of mountain worship since ancient times.
Based on its mythology, the shrine is also a popular "enmusubi" (matchmaking) shrine, drawing many visitors from all over the country who come to pray for love and good relationships.
Please note that the roads around the shrine are very congested during the first three days of the New Year.
We highly recommend using the special temporary shuttle buses provided by Hokuriku Railroad for Hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year).
Hajikami Jinja Shrine: Japan's Only Shrine to the God of Spices
Located in the suburbs of Kanazawa City, "Hajikami Jinja Shrine" is known as the only shrine in all of Japan dedicated to the god of spices.
Founded in 718, it boasts a history of over 1,300 years.
The name of the shrine, "Hajikami," comes from an old word meaning "something spicy that you bite with your teeth," which was a general term for spices like ginger and wasabi.
It is believed to bring good fortune for a long, healthy life and culinary skills, and in ancient times, many chefs, doctors, and pharmacists are said to have visited.
Hajikami Jinja Shrine has two locations, about 800m apart
① Hajikami Shrine: From January 1st to 3rd, you can receive New Year's lucky charms, amulets, and Goshuin stamps here.
② Hajikami Shrine Yohaisho (Remote Worship Site): After January 3rd, you can receive them here. (*Information is for 2025)
The shrine is also famous for the wide variety of Goshuin stamps it offers, with limited-edition seasonal ones being particularly popular. Be sure to get one when you visit.
Access:
• Hajikami Shrine: Ha 165, Hanazono Yawata-machi, Kanazawa City (approx. 10-minute walk / 550m from Hokuriku Railroad bus stop "Hachiman").
• Hajikami Shrine Yohaisho: Nu 131, Futsukaichi-machi, Kanazawa City (approx. 5-minute walk / 300m from Hokuriku Railroad bus stop "Yahata"). *Please note that bus services are limited.
